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Anthony Brown, recently named one of The Queens Courier’s Rising Stars, donated his kidney in 2013 to his mother Zita Brown after she was diagnosed with kidney disease a year before.

“It was so emotional because she didn’t know she had it,” he said. “It’s a progressive disease. She gets to the hospital for one thing and finds out she has another. They gave her six to seven months to live.”

Brown convinced his mother to let him donate his kidney after telling her that his life would not be complete without her by his side. Zita, originally from Laurelton, is now healthy and living in Florida.

“I said, ‘Mom, I need you in my life, I can’t imagine having my first kid or wedding without you there,’” he said. “There are life moments that I need her there for. She then buckled down, crying, and said yes.”

The now 25-year-old Long Island City resident then felt he had a moral obligation to be the “voice for a population of people who don’t have a voice.”

Brown, an associate and banker with J.P. Morgan’s Long Island Private Bank, became a volunteer advocate with the American Kidney Fund and now travels around the country speaking about kidney disease, encouraging ways to get more money for research.

“The decision [to donate] is something you have to make on your own,” he said. “But what I do is talk about my situation. Part of my mission is to make sure that people have a chance to at least consider it.”

He also took part in Kidney Action Day, hosted by the American Kidney Fund in Washington D.C., in which advocates come together and meet with local congressmembers to discuss the issues surrounding kidney diseases.

Said Brown, “I feel blessed that I can live for something bigger than myself.”

The Queens Courier will once again recognize the “Rising Stars,” a yearly networking event held to honor the borough’s top young professionals.

In years past, the event has boasted attendance of over 400 people and has raised thousands in charity funds. Honorees have included various elected officials and top business leaders.

This year’s event hopes to bring that and more, and will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 13th, 2014 at Terrace on the Park.

Also in attendance, Master of Ceremonies, Greg Kelly, Co-Anchor of Fox 5 “Good Day New York“, “Mentor of the Year” Award Recipient, Eugene Lang, Founder of REFAC Technology Development, the “I Have a Dream” Foundation and the Founder of Project Pericles and Star of Stars Award recipient, Queens Borough president Melinda Katz.

Interested in attending or becoming a sponsor or exhibitor, contact Maria Romero at 718-224-5863 ext. 226 or mromero@queenscourier.com.

The stars aligned last week when The Queens Courier honored 40 of the borough’s budding young professionals. “It’s awesome to be honored, and it’s humbling to be among these people,” said Eric Abrams, 26, digital media and membership associate for the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “I feel like I’m on my way up.”

Abrams — recognized for his work for the Chamber, including his part in securing a $100,000 grant to develop a mobile phone app for Queens tourism — shared the limelight with several other “Rising Stars” honored for exemplifying outstanding leadership skills in their chosen fields and communities.

Presented by Metropolitan Hospitality, the fifth annual “40 under 40” awards and networking event drew over 500 people and raised $2,500 in charity raffle funds collected to benefit the Hank Auffarth Family Center of The Child Center of NY and Morgan Center, a pre-school for kids with cancer.

“This makes me proud of my staff, the company and proud to work in Queens,” said Seth Taylor, 33, executive director at the 82nd Street Partnership. “It makes me think back to the work I’ve done and it reminds me of all the work to be done.”

On January 31, at the Caesars Club in Citi Field, event attendees networked with top professionals and mingled with representatives from leading businesses in the area, including this year’s event sponsors National Grid, TD Bank, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care & Rehabilitation, Delta Airlines, Queens Library, Con Edison, Flushing Bank, Council for Airport Opportunity, Queens County Savings Bank, Time Warner Business Class, Samuel Field Y, Sandwire, Crystal Window & Door Systems, Investors Bank and Ehren Joseph Studios.

Danielle Monaro, a co-host on Z100’s Elvis Duran & The Morning Show, received the “Star of Stars” award and was the night’s honorary emcee.

“I went to St. John’s University, so I feel like I grew up in Queens,” she said. “It’s just really nice to see how diverse the crowd is, how everybody comes together and supports each other. It really does mean a lot that I was chosen to be here. “

Creative Group, LLC and Delta Airlines provided the raffled-off Cancun trip, which included four nights and five days at the Ocean Spa Resort or the Laguna Suites and two round trip airfare tickets.
Broadway tickets, an HD TV, two Nets tickets to the TGI Suite at the Barclays Center and many gift certificates were also given away by exhibitors.

Guests also snapped pictures in a free photo booth sponsored by Investors Bank and snacked on free Nathan’s hotdogs and pretzels.

Danielle Monaro, co-host of the Z100 Elvis Duran and the Morning Show, talks about The Queens Courier Rising Stars event on her radio show.

The Queens Courier will once again recognize the “Rising Stars,” a yearly networking event held to honor the borough’s 40 top young professionals.

In years past, the event has boasted attendance of over 400 people and has raised thousands in charity funds. Guest appearances have been made by Borough President Helen Marshall, Former Mets baseball player Darryl Strawberry and just recently, Mike Woods, meteorologist for Fox 5’s Good Day New York. Honorees have included various elected officials and top business leaders. This year hopes to bring that and more, and will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Caesars Club at Citi Field on Thursday, January 31, 2013.

Along with recognizing notable Queens figures, the “Rising Stars” event also provides one of the top networking forums in the borough.

If you know someone you wish you nominate as a “Rising Star,” or are interested in becoming a sponsor, contact Maria Romero at 718-224-5863 ext. 226 or mromero@queenscourier.com. Nominations can also be submitted online at www.queenscourier.com/nomination.

Tickets are $85 per person, or $800 for 10 people, and can be purchased at queenscourier.com/events.

Devon O’Connor had never been to an awards ceremony — much less been honored at one.

So when the 20 year old was named one of The Queens Courier’s “Rising Stars,” he made sure to bask in the moment before it was gone.

“When I was called up to the stage and given the award, it was such a great feeling. It was amazing. Now I can imagine what it feels like to be honored at the Oscars,” O’Connor said. “It was really cool to be honored for doing something in the community. It makes it feel like everything I’m doing is definitely worth it.”

O’Connor — who was recognized for his work as president and founder of Welcome to Whitestone Commercial & Residential Civic Association — shared the limelight with other young professionals, all who were honored for exemplifying outstanding leadership skills in their chosen fields and communities.

Presented by Metropolitan Hospitality, the fourth annual “40 under 40” awards and networking event drew close to 400 people and raised $1,500 in charity raffle funds collected to benefit Futures in Education and Queens Centers for Progress (QCP).

The January 26 event, which took place at the Caesars Club in Citi Field, saw guest appearances by Borough President Helen Marshall, while event attendees networked with top professionals and mingled with representatives from leading businesses in the area, including this year’s event sponsors Con Edison, Flushing Bank, New York Daily News, Parker Jewish Institute for HealthCare & Rehabilitation, PSCH Inc., TD Bank, CUNY, Queens County Savings Bank, Joseph Addabbo Family Health Center, Print Early, Council for Airport Opportunity and NY1.

The “Star of Stars” Mike Woods — meteorologist for Fox 5’s “Good Day New York” — helped honor fellow award recipients, including “Mentor of the Year” Ed Charles, member of the 1969 World Champion New York Mets, and “Rookie of the Year” Justin Lieu, a senior in Francis Lewis High School who recently initiated a project to clean up the Olde Towne of Flushing Burial Ground.

“It was a great feeling to be honored at the event,” said Lieu. “I’m surprised that my project attracted this much positive attention from The Queens Courier and the Queens community.”

“I was there until the end. I came early, and I stayed late,” said event attendee Jon Landers of Creative Group, LLC — a graphic design and marketing organization. “It was a good crowd of people and a good venue.”

Delta gave two round trip tickets and Creative Group provided the raffled-off Cancun trip, which went to lucky recipient Sal Bacarella.

Meanwhile, raffle winner Dan James of Tully Construction took home the TD Bank gift certificate, while Erin Liberti won “Broadway Rox at Queens Theatre” tickets and Henry Negron received JetBlue airline tickets.

The Queens Courier will host its fourth annual “Rising Stars” awards and networking event on Thursday, January 26.

Presented by Metropolitan Hospitality, the evening will honor young professionals who exemplify outstanding leadership skills — not only in their chosen fields, but also in their community.

The “40 under 40” event will feature networking with top professionals and an expo with leading businesses in the area. There will also be a charity raffle to benefit Futures in Education and the Cerebral Palsy Organization.

The “Star of Stars Award” will be presented to Mike Woods — meteorologist for Fox 5’s Good Day New York — while the “Rookie of the Year” award will go to Justin Lieu, a senior in Francis Lewis High School.

The event will take place at Citi Field in Flushing — at the Caesars Club — from 5 to 8 p.m.